Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, titles, records and dynasties. 10 questions on the history of the NBA.
10 questions on the NBA: legendary players, franchises, all-time records and defining moments from professional basketball history.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) was founded in 1946 as the BAA before adopting its current name in 1949. It now has 30 franchises split between the Eastern and Western Conferences. The regular season runs from October to April, followed by the playoffs. The Larry O'Brien Trophy goes to the champion, and the most valuable player of the Finals receives the Finals MVP award.
The NBA has produced some of the most famous athletes in history: Michael Jordan (6 titles), LeBron James (4 titles), Kobe Bryant (5 titles), Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and, more recently, Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Want to warm up before playing or double-check something? Open any question to reveal the correct answer and a short explanation.
Correct answer: 6
Michael Jordan won 6 NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls across two three-peats: 1991-1992-1993, then 1996-1997-1998 after his first retirement. He won Finals MVP in all six of those victories, which remains a record. His Finals record stands at six wins from six appearances.
Correct answer: Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in the Philadelphia Warriors vs New York Knicks game on 2 March 1962 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The record has outlasted every generation of players. The second-highest single-game total is 81 points, scored by Kobe Bryant against the Toronto Raptors on 22 January 2006.
Correct answer: Boston Celtics (18)
The Boston Celtics are the most successful franchise in NBA history with 18 championships, most recently in 2024. The Los Angeles Lakers follow with 17 titles. The Celtics dominated the league in the 1950s and 1960s under Bill Russell, who won 11 titles in 13 seasons.
Correct answer: Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant gave himself the 'Black Mamba' nickname after the black mamba snake, one of the fastest and most lethal in the world. It represented his predatory mindset on the court. Bryant won 5 NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and tragically died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
Correct answer: 12 minutes
An NBA quarter lasts 12 minutes, making the regulation game 48 minutes of playing time. This is longer than in FIBA international basketball (10 minutes per quarter). If the game is tied at the end of regulation, five-minute overtime periods are played until a winner emerges.
Correct answer: Larry O'Brien Trophy
The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy has been awarded to the NBA champion since 1977, named after former Commissioner Larry O'Brien (1975-1984). The trophy is made of sterling silver with gold plating, is made by Tiffany & Co.. Each winning player also receives a personalised replica.
Correct answer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record with 6 regular-season MVP awards (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980). He was long the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 career points, a record LeBron James surpassed in February 2023. Kareem is famous for the skyhook, a shot that was virtually impossible to block.
Correct answer: 1993
Michael Jordan announced his first retirement on 6 October 1993, after winning his third consecutive title with the Bulls. He joined Minor League Baseball as a tribute to his father, who had been murdered in July 1993. He returned to basketball in March 1995 and led the Bulls to three more championships.
Correct answer: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo, born in Athens to Nigerian parents, is called 'The Greek Freak' for his exceptional athletic combination: height, enormous wingspan, speed and skill. He won back-to-back regular-season MVPs (2019, 2020) and the 2021 NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks, earning Finals MVP as well.
Correct answer: Ray Allen's (2,973)
Stephen Curry surpassed Ray Allen's record of 2,973 career three-pointers on 14 December 2021, during a game against the New York Knicks. Curry is considered the greatest shooter of all time, having fundamentally changed the game by normalising long-range shots and forcing every team in the league to rethink their defensive schemes.